Journal of Dan T. Cook - Fly Fishing the Globe

Traveling 75,000 miles around the world in search of fish and friendship.
Follow Dan's journey here or use Google Earth to see his trip so far.

Previous Entry ::::: Main Journal Page ::::: Next Entry

July 17, 2008 - Location: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada

Greetings from Whitehorse! I hope this update finds everyone happy, healthy and in good spirits. It has been way too long since my last update. My apologies! As a few people know, I have been busy conducting the initial program weekends for Rivers of Recovery. When you have a moment, please check out the website: www.riversofrecovery.org.

We will be operating another 2 weekend programs in September. The plan is to push Rives of Recovery onto the national stage and promote it as the only full-time, fly fishing-for-disabled veterans/soldiers program in the country. It is a tremendous challenge, but I cannot think of a better way to spend my time or resources. These guys and gals deserve all the support we can provide.

I didn’t fish much during the ROR weekends, but I still managed to land some nice trout...... 3 to be exact..... all at once! I know, it sounds like another "fish story," but here is the truth: While waiting for part of the group to catch up, my brother Steve noticed a big brown trout with what appeared to be a rather large Rapala-type lure stuck in its mouth. It seemed to be having some difficulty swimming around with the attachment, so I grabbed a landing net and waded over to try and scoop it. Before I could get over to the fish, another big brown trout suddenly appeared and attacked the lure too. Now there were two 20 inch brown trout stuck to the same lure. I knew that there would be little chance that the trout could survive such a predicament, so I snuck up, stuck the net in the water and miraculously scooped them out of a chest-deep pool. I held the net high and walked back to the boat to detach them. After grabbing a pair of clamps, I peered into the net to discover that the brown trout weren’t stuck to a lure at all--they had both chomped onto a 6 inch Rainbow! Apparently, the 2nd brown wanted a piece of the action and, after grabbing a hold, they were both too preoccupied to realize I was standing nearby. So...... 3 fish, 1 scoop!!!! The picture is at the bottom if you still don’t believe me.

GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE
Having spent nearly 5 weeks in the same location, I was itchin’ to get back on the road. The first thing I had to get used to is my new ride. Unfortunately, due to its New Zealand registration expiring, the LandCruiser could not finish out the trip with me. So I am back to my Ford, which I started the trip with over 2 years ago. It is certainly a bit more spacious inside, but it also happens to be a real gas hog. Filling the tank in the U.S. was around $150 and around $200 here in Canada. Yikes!!! For my next around-the-world trip, I reckon I’ll be riding a bike.

OH, CAN-ADA.......
After a quick stop in Kalispell, MT to visit friends, I crossed into Canada and met up with Calgary fly fisherwoman, Tiana Nordstrom. We were joined by a local guide, Patrick, and went "ah-boot" fishing a beautiful creek (small river?) someplace in southern Alberta. The scenery was fantastic and the fishing was just as good. I managed to land a number of picture-perfect Eastern Slope Cutthroat. They seemed to be coming out of nowhere to take my fly. After a few casts the next day, we headed up to the city for an obligatory Calgary Stampede experience. I was fortunate enough to be a spectator of the semi-finals for the chuckwagon races. They certainly take this stuff seriously. Even though I still don’t really understand what the "outriders" are for (don’t they just throw the crap into the back of the wagon and then ride their horses to the finish?), it was a good time. A big thanks to Tiana for the great hospitality: fishing and chuckwagon races—it doesn’t get much better than that!!

Like a lot of the North American West, Spring arrived in Calgary about 4-6 weeks late this year. That is great for water levels, but not-so-great for fishing. Instead of loitering in the post-Stampede traffic and harassing dormant fish, I decided to get back on the road and head northward to my date with another Yukon River trip.

WHITEHORSE
Although I could never endure a Winter in Whitehorse, the place is very attractive in the Summer. To live in the Yukon, a person must really love the outdoors. Subsequently, the city streets are teeming with people who have a passion for hiking or hunting or fishing or boating, or all-of-the-above.

Tomorrow, I will depart for a 240 mile Teslin-Yukon River trip from Whitehorse to Carmacks. Joining me will be my good friend, Sandor. I first met Sandor back in 2003 during my first excursion down the Yukon. Despite the large population of grizzly bears and black bears in the region, he has insisted that we bring plenty of bacon for breakfast. I suggested that he has to keep the bacon in his sleeping bag at night. I’ll let you know how it all works out.........

Thanks again for all the support that you have provided me over the last 2 years. Although I only have 6 weeks left on this journey, I am fortunate that it is 6 weeks in the Yukon and Alaska. I couldn’t think of a more fitting conclusion.

Stay tuned for a hailstorm of updates!

RonandDan: Dan with the "Trout-inator" Ron McCormick 

A legend is born: 2 big browns and 1 small rainbow in one scoop! Who needs a rod n’reel anyway????

An ariel view of the Green River and the Red Canyon. View courtesy of pilot Dave McDonald.

Just outside of Glacier National Park, near Babb, MT

A nice Cutthroat from some unnamed river in Southern Alberta (and part of my finger)

Tiana working a picturesque pool

The Columbia Icefield in Banff National Park

Meziadian Junction on the Cassier Highway

Previous Entry ::::: Main Journal Page ::::: Top of Page ::::: Next Entry